For the past two years, demonstrators wearing combat boots, many with their faces concealed by hoods, scarves or sunglasses, have regularly marched through Grafenberg holding burning torches and beating drums in menacing scenes that evoke Nazi-era rallies.

The time when in proud and happy security we assembled at this cottage, was gone -- soon the present hours would join those past, and shadows of future ones rose dark and menacing from the womb of time, their cradle and their bier.

I was at that protest, and watched as these burly guys — and gals — and their friends and followers lined up in menacing gauntlets outside of The Wall to intimidate activists, I was there when they waved the middle finger and screamed f – ck you! at protesters and told me personally, that it was not George W. Bush that got the country into such a mess, but weak-kneed lefties back home, badmouthing the war, not supporting the mission.